Logic ‘No Pressure’ Final Album – Our Thoughts

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Love or hate Logic, his contributions to Hip-Hop are undeniable. His recent work wasn’t too well received but his finale, ‘No Pressure’, posing as a sequel to ‘Under Pressure’ is more than compelling for any Hip-Hop fan.

Logic isn’t quite done though. He recently signed a deal with Twitch so there’s something to look forward to.

Let’s go through ‘No Pressure’ track-by-track.

No Pressure (Intro)

It’s great to hear Thalia again. For the uninitiated, she’s the robotic voice from Under Pressure. The No I.D shoutout, the intro script edited with Logic, and the classic boom-bap sound is traditional Logic fans love. Logic goes hard talking about his upbringing, while throwing references to Metal Gear and Hip-Hop legends. His old-school flow is present and you just know from the sound that this is that Old Logic.

Hit My Line

Hit My Line is Logic’s Everybody mindset meeting Kanye West’s old musical vibe. He starts off by referring to Jesus Walks, which perfectly sets the tone for what follows. Although Kanye was darker with his message, Logic’s song has a more positive attitude and bumpier beat riding along with it. That’s not to say he shies away from hard-hitting lyricism, however. A couple of them:

“Evil politicians, people on Twitter bitchin’
Hashtaggin’, but in real life, they never pitch in”

“They say they don’t want messages in rap, it ruins the art
Well, here I am, people, yeah, now tear me apart”

Not to mention the production is ethereal on this track.

GP4

So GP4 is actually the 4th part of his Growing Pains song series. Growing Pains 4, if you will. Growing Pains has always been about Logic finding success despite poverty. With GP4, he continues that but damn, the bars and the classic sample from OutKast elevate this track tenfold. It would be much better if Logic gave this another verse but overall GP4 is a good “rap” rap track. Thalia returns to report GP4 being Logic and No I.D’s appearance for the first time in six years.

Celebration

Celebration sounds different from an already unique sounding production. If Logic is a master at anything, it’s how he flows with literally any beat you throw at him. This song is proof of it. Logic acknowledges his success in this track with pride and rightly so. In Logic’s words, “what’s rap without a little braggadocio?”

Rapper Silas has a good featuring verse here as well. Nothing too crazy, just enjoying the track.

Open Mic\\Aquarius III

For those who appreciated Under Pressure, this is your song. Logic has so many small details in this song, it’s hard to keep track. The beat switches, the “you-you-you” sound effect, his positively rebellious look at his dark past, etc is like an Avengers dream team for a meaningful Logic story.

Out of 4 deep and heartfelt verses, the line that hit the hardest was the good old, “Living life like this is so crazy” at the beginning of the 3rd verse. It brings back all the nostalgia instantly. Brilliant.

Soul Food II

Speaking of nostalgia, here we get a direct sequel to one of Logic’s best songs ever. Soul Food II is Logic talking about the industry, which is majorly critical. The second verse, however, is the real gem. Going back to his phenomenal The Incredible True Story roots, Logic decides to ditch the punchlines and shit, and opts for some amazing storytelling.

No amount of explaining can do it justice ’till you have heard it yourself. It’s all about Thalia, Ultra85 (the album Logic was teasing for years), and the plot that followed his Incredible True Story album. Soul Food is Logic’s best song yet, for us. Soul Food II is a masterful follow-up.

Perfect

This 1:41 minute track is a fun little track with a bunch of inspirations and references. Thalia states Kanye West, RZA, Nujabes, and MF DOOM as inspirations behind this production. Though the first few seconds do sound arcade-like, something from Pokemon.

It’s always good to see Logic mixing sound bits from video games and pop culture in general. It is something no other rapper does well.

Man I Is

Another amazing throwback to begin this jazzy track with. The Knockin Doorz Down sample was previously used by Logic on his track named Addiction. For us, this song has the best production from No Pressure. The horns! If there ever is a Disco Elysium sequel, this track absolutely has to be in it. This is in-line with Indica Badu from Logic.

Logic is simply reminiscing about his life and expressing gratitude to the people who supported him. It has a coming-of-age vibe that you just can’t get enough of. Thalia shoutouts Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, and Samurai Champloo towards the end.

Dad Bod

This is a soulful, light-hearted, and realistic take of being a father by Logic. He compares his previous life, the tours and single life, to his daily life now. He reveals that both have their ups and downs. “Hotels suck and the internet is shitty”, Logic says while talking about touring.

This is Logic realizing that he is married and has other responsibilities now. The title isn’t really that relevant to the song but we see where he is coming from.

5 Hooks

Logic picks up the pace on this one. The speedy rhymes and cautious introspection are all there. Logic has always been about chasing his dreams more than earning money or followers. With a peaceful and solitude-filled beat, Logic’s lyrics reflect his state of mind. We are approaching the end of No Pressure and this is the beginning of a bittersweet farewell.

“Never scared to do it different, no two albums sound the same
I got tracks with Wu Tang and 2 Chainz, Killer Mike and Gucci Mane
Rap shit, trap shit, you know I do it with no shame” 

Actually living your life is different from just being alive, says Thalia at the end.

Dark Place

If you ever needed an update on Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, this is up your alley. Just like the title, this is a gloomy production coupled with an insight into Logic’s mental health issues such as anxiety. Fame is a blessing and a curse, uplifting and soul-crushing at the same time. Logic says how rap brought him joy and over time it became his primary source of pain.

Peace, love, and positivity are easier said than done. The message behind this is to embrace negatives and positives for better health. We see an Alan Watt’s speech snippet reappear after being used in his album, The Incredible True Story.

A2Z

Logic teaches his son the alphabet which turns out to be an ill lesson for rappers out there. Not sure if kids will find this useful yet, though. The beat here is simple enough, nothing insane going on but enough to keep the interest. Part 2 of this track is a recording from 2005 where Logic is practicing his rap skills.

Heard ‘Em Say

An all-out orchestra type of song, Logic inspires listeners with impactful messages and a well-complementing sound. The chorus, though short, is the highlight. Heard ‘Em Say is Logic’s version of Eminem’s Guts Over Fear and makes any fan out there think about what a journey this has been.

As Thalia concludes No Pressure, her voice cuts to introduce Ultra 85. We have a couple more tracks to go.

Amen

The piano emphasizes the end, folks. This is Logic’s tribute to Rattpack, his loyal fanbase. Since his inception, Logic has enjoyed one of the best fanbases in the music industry and he has made sure to include Rattpack into his music and life. He expresses his gratitude towards them in a heartbreaking sentiment.

Obediently Yours

This is it, Logic’s time to call the curtains. No Pressure ends with thoughts on current social issues (Black Lives Matter movements, for instance), how to live our lives responsibly, and that there is still much work to be done.

Final Thoughts

Logic’s No Pressure is an emotional and sensible finale to Logic’s discography. With Logic’s history given, we never really know if he is truly retiring for good. He might just decide something else down the line but we’ll see about that. As for now, No Pressure is another classic and certainly one of the best albums this year.

No Pressure Best Songs

    1. Man I Is
    2. Soul Food II
    3. Hit My Line
    4. Open Mic\\Aquarius III
Ammar Kachwala

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